George W. Shear Biography, Genesee County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 969


This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.


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GEORGE W. SHEAR is a well-known dealer, wholesale and retail, in 
peddlers' supplies, old iron, rags and metals, in which business he has 
been engaged for the past seven years. He succeeded H. D. Newman, who 
had carried on a business for many years here, and now has about 
fifteen teams on the road, covering the country for one hundred miles 
around Flint which is his headquarters. Mr. George Shear was for some 
time here alone, but his brother A. C., was associated with him July 
l9, 1890. Our subject was born May 13, 1861, in Macedon Centre. Monroe 
County, N. Y. and is a son of Charles and Rebecca (Crosby) Shear. The 
father was killed at the battle of the Wilderness. When our subject was 
seven years old the mother who had married Erastus Bortle, came from 
New York to Grand Blanc Township, and at the age of twelve George 
started out for himself, receiving at first $12 a month for his work, 
and working for his board and attending school in the winter. He was 
with Mr. Thomas Sandford for two years and at the age of fifteen he 
took the money which he had saved and returning to Macedon attended the 
academy.

   The youth now returned to Michigan and began work in South Lyon, 
Oakland County, and in 1878 was employed by Mr. Newman, driving a team 
for him on the peddler's cart. This he continued through the winter and 
in the summer he returned to South Lyons and in the following spring 
rented a farm with his stepfather and together they worked it for two 
years. They then were employed upon different farms for some time, our 
subject finally going to work for Mr. Newman, being employed in the 
store.

   After six years in Mr. Newman's employ the young man bought out that 
gentleman's interest May 27, 1887. At that time George Flanders was a 
partner in the business and six months later Mr. Shear bought that 
gentleman's interest also. He is now running the business on a capital 
of $4,000, carrying a good lucrative trade and is considered the 
largest peddler's supply house in Northern Michigan. April 20, 1885 was 
the wedding day of George W. Shear and Mary E. Warren daughter of Mrs. 
Julia Warren, of Flint. They had one son who has passed from earth. 
This gentleman has been too busy in getting' a start in life to take 
any part in political matters, but he is a member of the National Union 
Lodge of Flint.




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